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IRVINE, Calif. – No. 13 UC San Diego dropped the opening game of the 2013 SoCal Tournament to No. 5 Cal, 13-7, on Saturday. The loss marks the second defeat at the hands of the Bears in 2013 for UCSD. In the nightcap, the Tritons fell victim to a slow start against No. 14 UC Davis in a 12-10 loss.

The Tritons fall to 8-10 on the year following the setbacks, while Cal improves to 9-3 and the Aggies advance to 6-7.

Joe Dietrich led the Tritons in scoring with six goals between the two games and Tommy Friedrich (Carlsbad/Carlsbad HS) scored five times.

In game one, Cal opened up the match with five goals in the first period to jump ahead early and followed with another score in the second to total six by halftime. With the offense flourishing, the Bears defensive held the Tritons to only a pair of goals to lead 6-2 at intermission.

UCSD received the two scores from Matt Michalko (San Diego/The Bishop's School) and Friedrich, one apiece in each quarter.

The Tritons eventually trailed 8-3 in the third before Dietrich and Friedrich cut the deficit to 8-5 with a goal each. Cal responded with a pair of scores to extend its lead back to 10-4. Nick Alexander found the back of the cage for his first collegiate goal with a minute left to play in the third to make the tally 10-5 after three periods.

Any thought of a comeback from the Tritons was erased by three goals from the Bears in the final period. Dietrich and Shane Troutman tallied the final two scores with one apiece to make the final 13-7 in favor of Cal.

Friedrich and Dietrich led the Tritons in scoring in the game, netting two apiece. Cameron Ravanbach (La Jolla/La Jolla HS, 14) and Daniel Schwartz (2) combined for 16 saves in the loss, respectively.

Thomas Carroll powered the Bears in the win, scoring thee times. Jon Sibley recorded 13 stops in the cage for Cal.

In the second game of the day, UCSD faced off against familiar Western Water Polo Association foe UC Davis. The Tritons slow start was countered with an impressive comeback, but the early struggles eventually doomed UCSD in the end.

The Aggies came out firing on offense, rattling off four straight scores to lead 4-0 to start the first period. Down 6-1 at one point in the second, the Tritons responded with a three-goal run to end the period with two scores from Dietrich and one from Daniel Straub (San Diego/Patrick Henry HS) to trail 6-4 at the half.

The comeback continued into the third period with four goals from the Tritons, eventually tying the match at 8-8 following a goal from Friedrich. UC Davis managed to find the back of the cage with 1:23 remaining in the third, however, to lead 9-8 heading into the final quarter.

UCSD received a goal from Jeffrey Jarvis to begin the fourth and tie the match once again at nine, but the Aggies followed suit with a response. UCD ran off a string of three straight scores to jump ahead 12-9 with 1:48 remaining to take control of the game. UCSD managed one final goal from Cockerill, but it proved too little too late as the Aggies prevailed 12-10.

Dietrich led the Tritons with four goals in the match, while Ravanbach recorded four saves.

UC Davis was powered by three goals apiece from Trevor Allen and Bernie Rogers. Phillip Bates amassed five saves in the cage for the Aggies in the win.

The Tritons continue play in the SoCal Tournament tomorrow with two more matches. The first game is slated to begin 10:50 p.m. at Corona del Mar HS against Pomona-Pitzer. UCSD beat the Saghens once already in 2013 with a 9-5 win in Claremont on Sept. 14. The second match will be determined following the result of the first game.